Liver disease (hepatitis, cirrhosis) decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected infectious hepatitis is not manifested by fatigue, malaise, and anorexia, or incapacitating episodes. Therefore, the claim for a compensable rating has been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is directly related to his service, specifically his jaw surgery in service. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between any of these conditions and active duty or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C and dyshidrotic eczema due to incomplete evaluations and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for Gilbert's disease with history of hepatitis is being remanded due to the need for clarification from the VA examiner who conducted an August 2015 examination.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for hepatitis C due to new and material evidence. However, the claim is denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking the current diagnosis of hepatitis C to active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was due to ischemic heart disease, which is presumed to be caused by his service in Vietnam and exposure to herbicides. The claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C and diabetes mellitus were denied. The claim for TDIU was granted with an effective date of April 22, 2011.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for hepatitis C and PTSD, but remanded both issues due to insufficient evidence.

The application to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for hepatitis was denied.,Service connection for a left shoulder disability is denied. The Veteran's diagnosed left shoulder bursitis was not incurred in service and is not related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and liver cancer due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for hypertension and hepatitis C have been denied as there is no evidence of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more, or a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more requiring continuous medication for control. For hepatitis C, the Veteran's condition has been effectively treated and is asymptomatic.

The Board has granted reopening of service connection for hypertension, but denied reopening of service connection for a musculoskeletal condition (left ankle), liver condition/cirrhosis, macular degeneration with glaucoma of the right eye, and loss of vision of the left eye. Service connection for hypertension is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, stating that his service-connected disabilities alone were not sufficient to cause unemployability in the period of one year before the date of claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to uncertainty regarding whether the Veteran currently has hepatitis B and its relationship to service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for hepatitis C and granted it, finding that new evidence (the Veteran's account of what a doctor told him) raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. However, the claim is denied as there is no causal relationship between the Veteran's in-service blood in urine and his current hepatitis C.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of VA and private treatment records, SSA records, and a detailed statement regarding his assault stressor. The Veteran will be asked to provide these documents.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as service-connected. Hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder are denied as not related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hepatitis C and skin cancer due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's lay statements are considered in determining whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's initial rating for hepatitis C was granted, but the Board finds that a new examination is needed to assess the current severity of his condition.